TNT Sports has acquired the FA Cup, a shocking statement made on Thursday

TNT Sports has acquired the FA Cup, a shocking statement made on Thursday.

 

 

A Thursday announcement about the FA Cup.

 

The NFL has disclosed (see below) that they have sold TNT Sports the TV rights as of the 2025–2026 season.

 

Since all FA Cup games are currently televised on BBC and ITV channels, almost everyone in England may watch every match for free, provided they own a TV that can receive all of the BBC and ITV networks.

 

According to an FA statement released today, in addition to games on subscription channels…

 

Highlights of every game will be made accessible, and a selection of matches from each round will be broadcast for free on television. In due order, further information on the free-to-air broadcaster will be verified.

 

Umm. Maybe including the “free to air” specifics in today’s statement would have been preferable and more clear.

 

It’s hard to think that, whatever the free-to-air component turns out to be, football fans’ existing access to live FA Cup matches will be even remotely matched.

 

The FA announced on February 15, 2024, that TNT Sports had purchased the FA Cup.

 

The Emirates FA Cup will have more games available than ever before on TNT Sports and free-to-air, according to a new four-year broadcast agreement between The Football Association [The FA] and TNT Sports. The partnership will begin with the 2025–2026 season. The Emirates FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world.

 

The FA and Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, have formed a new arrangement that will guarantee the continued availability of the world’s oldest national knockout football competition throughout the United Kingdom.

 

Live coverage of the first round matches will air on TNT Sports. All games from the third round, even those that begin off after 3 p.m., will be available for viewing until the final at Wembley Stadium, which is connected by EE.

 

Highlights of every game will be released, and a selection of matches from each round will be available for free on television. In due order, further information on the free-to-air broadcaster will be verified.

 

TNT Sports will air the Emirates FA Cup matches in addition to the FA Community Shield, the FA Youth Cup semifinals and championship, and the English football season’s customary opener.

 

As the Vanarama National League’s broadcast partner since 2013, TNT has already had a significant impact on the development of English football.

 

Every season, clubs, communities, and the general public are captivated by the Emirates FA Cup, which has become an iconic event in English football culture. These stories will be told on TNT Sports’ channels, which include EE TV, Sky, and Virgin Media, as well as on its streaming platform, discovery+.

 

The FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, stated: “Our crown jewel, the Emirates FA Cup, helps us to provide vital investment across every level of English football, supporting grassroots, clubs, communities, and facilities.”

 

“The Emirates FA Cup creates incredible moments and unforgettable memories for fans every season and round. With this new partnership, select matches from the competition’s first round to the Final at Wembley Stadium will be shown live on TNT Sports in addition to being available for free streaming.

 

We’re thrilled to be collaborating with TNT Sports on our joint commitment and long-term vision to make sure the Emirates FA Cup thrives for years to come. They are an amazing broadcaster with a stellar track record of televising some of the biggest and best sporting events worldwide.

 

“TNT Sports is proud to partner with The FA to present more matches of the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition than ever before alongside our great line-up of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League and club competitions, bringing even more live football to our TNT Sports customers,” stated Andrew Georgiou, president and managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe.

 

“TNT Sports is the ideal home as we continue to convey the stories that matter most to the fans because of the Emirates FA Cup and the amazing storylines it creates every season, which go well beyond football.

 

“We and The FA value the place that this iconic competition holds in the hearts of football fans, which is why we will keep working to maintain a certain level of free-to-air coverage.”